Merry-go-round



April 9, 1935 v. w. JAcoBsx-:N

MERRY-GO-ROUND Filed July 7, 1934 2 sheets-sheer 1' April 9, 1935. v. w. .IACQBSEN Y 1,996,923

MERRY-GO-ROUND Filed July 7, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 9, 1935y MERRY-Go-'ROUND Viggo WestphalA Jacobsen, Charlottenlurnd,v

Denmark Application July 7, 1934, swarm).vv 734,192"y In Denmark January 20,'V 1934 'z Claims. (Greiz-+28),

The invention relates to a merry-go-round of the kind having a number of ygondolas in the shape of flying machines rotated in circular paths about-a central vertical shaft. V The invention has for its object, in this kind of pleasure apparatuses, to produce for the public an illusion of fiight and of the ability tov steer the gondola as desired. For this purpose the gondolas are supported by ball links or the like on posts, which in their turn are connected to the central vertical shaft. This connection may be effected by means of a system of mainly horizontal arms, which by means of a central ball link or the like, similarly with a limited mobility, are connected to the central shaft, which'may be arranged in such a manner that it can be'raised by a mechanical device, preferably a hydraulic lifting device. The individual arms, however, may also each be pivoted to the centrall shaft and to the supporting posts, in such a manner that the individual arms may be raised separately.

'Ihe gondolas are fltted witnhorizontal and vertical rudders and other steering means with steering gear belonging thereto, as known from flying machines, but since the speed of the gondolas will not be suflicient to allow the steering to be effected by aerodynamic means, the steering means are connected to the supporting device of the gondolas, in such a manner that a sufcient power will be available for effecting a steering. A further advantage is to allow the horizontal rudder of the gondola to be connected to the hydraulic device, in such a manner that the passenger by operating the horizontal rudder, can cause the machine to ascend or descend, as desired.

The drawings show, diagrammatically, two constructions of the invention,

Fig. 1 showing a vertical section of a merry-go- 40 round,

Fig. 2 one individual gondola, partly in vertical section to a larger scale, and

Fig. 3 a vertical section of another construction.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the merry-go-round is built as a round structure I with a oor 2, which along its periphery has a free circular opening 3 through which the supporting posts 4 for the individual gondolas 5 in the shape of iiying machines can project. 'I'he supporting posts 4 are connected, by means of arms 6, to a ball or Cardan link 'I, which can be rotated with a limited degree of mobility relatively to a spherical cup 8 at the end of a shaft 9, which is journalled in a sleeve I D, which fits as a plunger in a cylinder I I for a pressure fluid I2. By means of a motor I3k the shaft Scanbe rotatedby means of a Cardan shaft I4, in such a a manner lthat the connection between the motor I3 and the shaft 9 will not be cut off, even if the shaft be raised. As furthershown in Fig. 2,A the supporting columns 4 terminate in a ball bearing I5, which ts ina corresponding cup I6 in the gondola5, which as mentioned before has the shape of a flying machine with propeller I'I as well as vertical and horizontal rudders I8 and I9 with steering gears 20 and 2| belonging thereto. l e

In order to increase'the' illusion, the propeller I1 can befrotated by means of'an` electric motor 22bu`ilt into the gondolaitself and supplied with current in a manner not shown in detail. In the construction shown in Fig. 3, the'supportingposts are pivotedV to the arms 6 'which preferably are shaped as a parallelogram consist--A ing of two arms which are each pivoted tothe supportingzposts 4 andl to supporting flanges 24 disposed on 'the shaft19 which inf this construction supports a worm wheel 25 engaging a wormr 26 driven by the motor I3. The supporting flanges 24 are further fitted with arms 21 to which hydraulic pressure cylinders 28 are pivoted, while their piston rod 29 is pivoted to the arms 6, in such a manner that the piston rod 29 will lift the arms 6, so as to cause them to rotate about the sup-` porting flanges 24, and will lift the supporting column 4 with the gondola 5, when pressure fluidv f is directed into the pressure cylinders 28.` The horizontal rudder 2| of the gondola should suitably, in a manner not shown in detail, be connected to the means governing the supply of pressure fluid to the pressure cylinders 28, in such a manner that the inlet for the pressure uid is opened when the machine is steered upward, while the pressure fluid is discharged, when the machine is steered downward.

'Ihe merry-go-round shown in Fig. 1 is used in this manner that the passengers enter into their gondolas, While the latter'are resting on the floor 2, the shaft 9 being depressed entirely.. When the passengers have taken their seats, the current is directed to the motors 22, in such `a manner that the propellers will commence to rotate. After this the motor I3 is also started, and the arms 6 are hereby caused to rotate taking the supporting posts 4 along. Hereby the gondolas commence tov roll forward on the floor on wheels 23 provided for that purpose. Then the shaft 9 is raised by pressure fluid supplied to the cylinderrII, and thereby the gondolas will be lifted from the floor. Since the suspension ofthe gondolas on the supporting posts 4, as well as the suspension of the arms 6 on the shaft 9, is partly movable, the gondolas Will therefore if left to themselves, occupy oblique positions, because the equilibrium is not perfect at the start, and on account of the effect of the centrifugal force.

This Obliquity will be further increased and main-V tained on account of the resistance of the air against the motion, but can be counteracted by the passenger by Va suitable operationof the'steering gears 20 and 2| built into the gondolas.V

The construction shown in Fig. 3 operates in a corresponding manner, but here the himself is able to cause Vthe gondola 5 to lift itself from the floor, as pressure Huid only'dif y rected to the hydraulic cylinders 28 when the lhorizontal rudder is operatedjncuitablemnnner..

` Y 1. `The combination in a merry-@round lofv a central vertical shaft, kvertical posts. means rotating about andV connecting vsaid shaft with' the vertical posts, a-seat `inthe form ofa, flying machinejmounted for universal movement with respect to and. upon Ythe upperl end of each of said posts. 2. The combination, in a merry-go-rmmd of a central shaft, arms pivoted to said `shaft and movable ina circular path-and in a verticalplane, vertical postscarried at the outer ends of said arms, a ,seat in the formA of va. ying machine mounted, foruniversal movement with respect to and upon the upper end of each of said posts. 3. In a merry-go-round, the combination of av central shaft, arms connected to move in a circular path and in a vertical plane with respect to said shaft, means for moving said arms relatively to said shaft, vertical posts connected with said arms, and carrying seats in the form of ily-A ing machines mounted uponf the upper ends of saidposts.

4. In a. merry-go-round, vertical posts', moving ina circular path, a seat in the form of a flyingv 'machine mounted for universal movement on top of each vertical post, steering means in each flying machine` connected to said post and controlling the position of the machine with respect to the post.

15. Ina merry-go-round, the combination of a .central shaft, means for lifting said shaft in an vaxial direction, lvertical posts, movable in a circular path about said shaft, means' connecting saidpoststo camshaft, and n. seat'in theuforrn of ay flying. .machine vmmxnted oneach 6. In a. merry-go-round. the combination-.cita y central vertical shaft, vertl-posts, pivutedn'ms rotatable about and cmine'ctedto said shaft'and y to said posts, said arms' being movable lin a ver? tical plane,"V a seat in the form of a- 'ilying machine mounted for universal movement on the topfof each of said posts, and-hydrauliclmeansfor ing said seats.` n 1 :7. In a. men'y-'gorounmthe combination of a centralfvertical shaft, verticalposts, pivoted arms rotatable about and connected to said 'shaftand to the posts to move vertically wthrspectthereto, a, seat in the formof aflying machine mount- ,ed foruniversal movement'ion the ofeach of 4saidposts, hydraulic means -for lifting .said

seats, and governing means for said hydraulic lifting means connected with and including steer'- inggears in the form of the commonly used gears in a flying machine. Y z

. EVIGGO WESTPHAL. JACOBSEN. 

